Verification badges do more than look nice — they signal legitimacy to fans, curators, and anyone deciding whether to take an artist seriously. Here’s how to actually get them.
Spotify Verification
Claim your artist profile through Spotify for Artists first — verification typically follows once you have a claimed profile with some baseline activity (uploaded music, complete profile info). There’s no separate “apply for verification” button; it’s tied to having an active, claimed profile in good standing.
Instagram Verification
Instagram’s verification (the blue check) generally requires meeting criteria around authenticity, uniqueness, completeness of profile, and notability — meaning some public interest or presence beyond just having an account. This one’s genuinely harder to get without some existing press or public profile, and isn’t strictly necessary to grow an audience.
What Actually Matters More Early On
A complete, professional profile — bio, consistent branding, active posting, real engagement — builds trust with fans and curators regardless of whether a verification badge is attached. Don’t treat the badge as a prerequisite for looking legitimate; consistency does more of that work than a checkmark does.
Focus on the Fundamentals First
Spotify for Artists verification is realistic and worth pursuing early — it’s genuinely useful for playlist visibility and profile control. Instagram verification is a longer-term goal that tends to follow growth and press coverage naturally, rather than something to chase directly before there’s a real audience or story behind it.
Don’t Let the Badge Distract From the Work
Verification is a nice signal once it happens, but it’s a lagging indicator of growth, not a growth strategy itself. Time spent obsessing over getting verified is usually better spent on the actual music, content, and audience-building that eventually makes verification a natural next step.